TNA MP complains of Sinhala colonisation in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 January 2010, 04:28 GMT]“Government has taken action to settle 107 Sinhalese families in the traditional Tamil areas in Batticaloa district within the last three months,” P. Ariyanethiran, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Batticaloa parliamentarian, said in a report. He further said that a written complaint about the matter to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had not produced any result.

“I had pointed out with evidence that huts had been constructed to house 170 Sinhalese families in Kevu’liyaamadu in Paddippazhai Division in the Development Integration meeting held in Batticaloa Secretariat on 7 December 2009,” Ariyanethiran said in a statement.

“A committee headed by the GA was set up to remove the huts but so far they had not been removed. On the contrary, the colonization of Sinhalese in this area has been extended from Kevu’liyaamadu to Kachchakkodi Chuvaami Malai with 230 Sinhalese families settled,” the statement said.

“I understand that the Government Agent of Ampaa’rai district has issued land permits for some Sinhalese encroachers of government land in Kevu’liyaamadu. I request the related authorities to stop this colonization of Sinhalese in Tamil areas before the presidential election,” the statement concluded.